Superstorm Sandy could have destroyed NYPD evidence warehouse

NEW YORK (WABC/CNN) - Superstorm Sandy is having an unexpected impact on pending court cases in New York. An evidence warehouse in Brooklyn was damaged in the October storm.

It holds thousands of pieces of police evidence, ranging from DNA to narcotics to guns.

The NYPD says it still hasn't been able to get into the Brooklyn facility or a second one because sewage contamination has made them unsafe. A former Brooklyn prosecutor says if it turns out the evidence inside is destroyed, the impact could be tremendous.

"There could be motions being brought after conviction later on that says that lost evidence could have exonerated the criminal defendant and therefore the entire case should be dismissed. So you'll be seeing these motions for years to come," said David Schwartz, former Assistant Brooklyn D.A.

The NYPD says so far, there have been six criminal cases where police have said there is evidence, but it's not accessible.